Maria Sharapova progresses at Australian Open

Maria Sharapova has made it through to the second round of the Australian Open thanks to a straight-sets win over Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

World number three Sharapova raced into a commanding 4-0 lead during the opening set before the American fought back to get to within a game of her opponent. However, the Russian pulled away once more to close it out 6-3.

There was little to separate the two players during the second set, but it was Sharapova who eventually came through 6-4.

The four-time Grand Slam champion will now meet Italian world number 44 Karin Knapp for a place in the third round of the tournament.